Clasp



(No Model.) v

J. L. FREDLIHP.

CLASP.

Patented Aug. 2, 1892.

ATENT Fries.

JOSEPH L. FREDLIHP, OF PORTERSVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

CLASP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,938, dated August 2, 1892. Application filed March 26, 1892. .Serial No. 426,544. (No model.)

. I obviate the necessity of employing buttons,

with their consequent disadvantages, caused by their coming off and becoming lost.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the following description, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective of a pair of suspenders provided with clasps constructed in accordance with my invention, said clasps being shown as closed. Fig. 2 is a detail in perspective of one of the clasps, the same being shown enlarged and as open. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the clasp. Figs. 4 and 5 are similar views of modified constructions.

Like numerals of reference indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawings.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1,1 1 designate the opposite diverging suspenderterminals, which are connected at their rear ends by the usual clip 2, and are provided near their front ends with the adjustable slides 3, each of which in this instance has depending therefrom ahook at, a similarhook 4: depending from the clip 2. 5 designates metal loops, in which are loosely supported the short straps 6, usually provided with buttonholes for engaging with the buttons on the apparel of the wearer. The loops 5 are provided with eyes 7, which are adapted to removably engage with the hooks 4:. The ends of the straps 6 have secured thereto clips 8, and in each a ring 9 is loosely connected.

I now come to the construction of clasp wherebyI obviate the necessity of employing buttons for connecting the apparel with the straps 6. It will be understood that in lieu of the above-described suspender any other style of suspender may be employed or any support-er for apparel may be substituted.

The clasp-body 10 may he formed of ablock of metal or bent to the shape shown. In the present instance, however, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it is of the former. This block is slotted from its lower end to near its upper, so as to form a rear wall 11, a front wall 12, and an intermediate space 13, into which the garment is to be inserted. Both the front and rear walls 11 and 12 are provided with longitudinal openings or slots 14, the rear wall being reinforced and the rear side of its opening closed by means of a back piece 15, having a series of indentations 16. To the lower end of the front walls 12 there is hinged, as at 17, a swinging leaf or member 18, the same being of inverted-L shape; or, in other words, provided at its free end with a right-angularly-bent locking portion 19, the same having a perforation 20. The swinging member 18 is adapted to fold up against the front wall 12 and its perforation 20 to be sprung over and interlocked with a small lug 21, formed upon the upper end of the claspbody 10. The inner face of the member 18 is provided with one or a series of needles or spurs 22, (in this instance three,) and the points of the same are coincident with the indentations or cavities 16, formed in the backing or reinforcing plate 15. Any suitable ringer connecting device 23 is located at the upper end of the clasp-body, (in this instance a ring being employed,) and the same interlooks with the ring 9, with which the ends of the straps 6 are provided.

In Fig. I I have illustrated a modified construction of clasp, and in said construction I employ a clasp-body comprising the rear wall 24, having perforations 25 for the reception of needles or spurs, and a front wall 26, the latter being slotted in the same manner as the front wall 12 of the form of clasp shown in Fig. 2. In this instance, however, the slot extends from near the bottom to the upper end of the front wall, and also at the upper end of the clasp and between the walls of the said slot there is pivoted by a pin 27 the swinging member 28. This member is provided with angular faces 29 and 30 and atits inner side with pins or spurs 31, coincident with the perforations 25 of the back wall 24:. A ring 32 has its terminals connected to the pin 27, and a spring 33 is secured at its lower end to the rear face of the back wall of the clasp, and at its free end lies against either of the angular faces 29 or 30, in accordance with the position of the swinging member. For instance, by swinging the lower end of the member outwardly, so that the clasp is open, the spring lies against the face 29, and by closing said member the spring lies against the face 30, so that the said member is locked in either position, or rather is held either closed or open, the latter position serving to lock the clasp to the garment, while the former position is opened to permit of the insertion of the garment into the clasp.

In Fig. 5 I have illustrated a further modification, and in this instance the claspbody comprises a rear wall 3i and a front wall 35, the former having the cavities 36 and the latter provided with a slot or opening extending from a point at its bottom to near its upper end. Pivoted in this opening, as at 38, is a hinged member 39, provided at its inner side with needles or spurs 4:0, coincident with and adapted to take into the aforesaid cavities 36. A curved springleaf 41 is pivoted, as at 4-2, to the front face of the clasp-body above the opening in its front wall,and at its lower end is adapted to be swung over the upper free end of the hinged inemoer39. is provided at its outer face with a screw or stud 4:3,with which the free edge of the aforesaid spring engages.

In practice the series of clasps are opened to receive the edges of the garments to which they are to be applied,and after having been settled in position the said members of the clasps are swung to a closed position, the needles or spurs being forced through the material and taking into the cavities provided for their reception. As before stated, the clasps are especially adapted for use upon suspenders and are designed to obviate the necessity of employing buttons upon the pants for this purpose, whereby I avoid all the inconven- This member iences arising therefrom, such as frequent loosening, breaking or tearing out under strain, (K50. Then it is desired to remove the suspenders, from the pants it is simply necessary to disconnect the eyes 7 of the clips 5 from the hooks at of the slides 3. It is intended that a set of elasps and their connectingstraps 6 be employed for each pair of trousers or pants, so that it is simply necessary to remove the shoulder-straps or terminals of the suspenders in order to change them from one pair of pants to another.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. The herein-described improved clasp, the same consistingof the inverted-U-shaped rigid metal bodyslotted transversely from its lower end to near its upper-end,formingfront and rear walls, the former having a slot in its front face, the swinging member hinged in the lower end of the slot of the frontwall and provided on its inner face with needles inwardly disposed and adapted to enter cavities formed in the front face of the rear wall, and means for removably lockingsaid swinging member in a closed position, substantially as specified.

2. The herein-described improved clasp having the inverted-U-shaped body forming the front and rear walls, each provided with a slot, a reinforcing or backing wall located in rear of the slot of the back wall and provided with cavities, and the inverted-L-shaped hinged member 18, pivoted, as at 17, to the lower end of the front wall and having the spurs 22 for engaging the cavities of the back wall, the upper angularend of the member having a perforation 20, adapted to spring over a locking-lug 21, located upon the upper end of the clasp-body, substantially as specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aifixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH L. FREDLlI-IP.

\Vitnesses:

LoUIs BAGBY, M. B. CRAWFORD. 

